[Clostridium difficile: a serious outpatient infection?]

Secondary to severe hospital outbreaks due to hypervirulent strains of Clostridium difficile, several surveillance systems in North-America and Europe observed an increase in infections due to this micro-organism, also in the outpatient setting. The case reported in the present article illustrates the fulminant presentation that a C. difficile colitis can show in a previously healthy person without prior contact with healthcare facilities. It introduces a review of some recent publications on the current changes in the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of this disease.